Real Madrid are reportedly confident that they will soon complete the summer deal for highly-rated Real Betis midfielder Dani Ceballos.
Spanish outlet Sport have reported that Dani Ceballos is inching closer to completing his move to Real Madrid. The Spanish champions are set to pay €15 million deal to acquire the services of the Real Betis midfielder in the summer midfielder.
Ceballos completed the initial years of his footballing education at Sevilla before the club released him due to a chronic bronchitis problem. The player later joined the youth setup at Real Betis, where he has progressed through the ranks before making his debut for the senior side in 2014.
Dani Ceballos’ 2016/17 LaLiga season by numbers:
1323 passes
79 take-ons
66 tackles won
52 interceptions
38 chances createdAll-rounder. pic.twitter.com/Bm5S4LasHe
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) June 28, 2017
Since then, Ceballos has established himself as an instrumental figure in the first-team setup at Estadio Benito Villamarin, going from strength to strength with Los Verdiblancos, having turned in several gritty performances.
The 20-year-old is also a fully-fledged member of the Spain under-21 side. And he has been a mainstay in the team in its run up to the final of the under-21 European Championship that is currently underway in Poland.
His exploits haven’t gone unnoticed either, with one of the biggest clubs in Europe – Real Madrid – keenly following his progress in recent seasons. Los Blancos, in fact, tried to snap Ceballos up two summers ago before the move was scuppered at the last moment.
The Spanish champions have now renewed their interest in the youngster, with club president, Florentino Perez willing to pay his €15 million release clause as well.
To sweeten the deal, Real Madrid are also likely to send Ceballos back to Betis on a season-long loan spell to allow them to also lay the succession plans for the player.
Dani Ceballos vs. Italy U21
Saúl may have stolen the headlines, but it was Ceballos who dominated the whole game.pic.twitter.com/QckAEkubry
— EiF (@EiF_Highlights) June 28, 2017
The move would also be ideal for the 20-year-old as he can play regular first-team football with Los Verdiblancos next season instead of warming the bench at Real Madrid, where Luka Modric, Toni Kroos and Casemiro are almost indispensable at the heart of midfield.
But, with Modric on the wrong side of 30, and with the likes of James Rodriguez and Mateo Kovacic likely to leave Real Madrid this summer a place could be up for grabs in the 2018/19 season. Till then, Ceballos can enjoy another promising campaign with Betis to continue his development.
At 20, the player’s best years are well ahead of him which potentially makes him a long-term solution in midfield for Zinedine Zidane’s side. Ceballos, meanwhile, has made it clear that he will decide his future after the final against Germany and the picture is likely to become clearer soon.
